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Black

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Explosive action burns out quick -- adults only.

Why We Rated This not for kids

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Game involves terrorism, and some characters are US agents gone bad.
  • Violence:

    Lots of shooting with a range of weapons. Enemy death throes look realistic, but the only blood depicted is brief in cut scenes. Some implied torture in cut scenes.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Moderate swearing, including "f--k."
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some characters are shown smoking cigarettes in cut scenes.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Black was written by Chris Jozefowicz

Parents need to know that this is a first-person shooter in which players kill hundreds of enemies with a variety of guns and explosives. The game's graphics are very realistic, although there is no blood during gameplay. The story revolves around terrorism and includes some quick video of bloody victims and implied torture. The game also includes swearing and cigarette smoking in some cut scenes.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about this game's marketing materials, which celebrated the game as "gun porn." What does this term mean? Do you find this campaign, with its association between sex and violence, troubling? Does that make the game more appealing? Is superficial violence more appealing -- and less damaging -- than realistic violence? Or do you believe the opposite?
Did this review help you decide?

OK for Your Kids to Play?

Do you play it? Review It!

More on Black

What’s the Story?

BLACK follows the terrorist-busting exploits of a special operation soldier, but this game isn't really about narrative: Black is about shooting people and blowing things up. Players float through eight game missions, holding a series of guns in the familiar first-person-shooter style. The goal of each mission is to essentially move from point A through the level to point B. There are some shallow secondary objectives, like collecting notebooks and destroying safes hidden throughout the missions.

Is It Any Good?

The game is graphically gorgeous. Action takes place in a range of environments, including a forest at night and a dilapidated insane asylum. And firefights are exciting, with shrapnel and bullet shells flying through the smoke, and rocket-propelled grenades and muzzle flashes exploding all around. Parents may be surprised by the lack of blood and gore, although enemies will scream and flail when shot.

Even at its short length -- most gamers will finish the game in around seven hours -- Black has seemingly given all it has to give by the halfway point. Then the game's problems -- players aren't really required to use strategy, nor are they able to save mission progress part-way through an hour-long level -- start to become apparent.

Publisher’s Details

Developer: Electronic Arts
Released on: 3/20/2006, Price: $39.99, not online enabled
ESRB Rating: M for Strong language, violence

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 5.0

    Cool, but.....

    This game has to be one of the best shooters out there. The action is over the top. Parents shouldn't freak out. The worst aspect of the game is it's language. It ranges from the little ones to the big nasty ones. That's the worst part. This game is a shooter, and it's surprizing that there is no blood. None at all. Just guns and more guns. You can shoot anything and everything, including cars, walls, and explosive barrels. There are cutscenes where there is language and two guys smoking. That's all. If your kid knows that he's not allowed to say these words and that videogames aren't real, he/she will be fine.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on and give it 3.0

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title off and give it 3.0

    not for kids

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy and give it 5.0

    it was fun

    if u like shooting up games it is not a problem it curses alot but ijust some times i put it on mute and listen to my ipod nano

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Nebraska
    I rate this title on and give it 4.0

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